Saturday, February 23, 2013

Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart by J.D. Greear

With a title like this, you'd think controversy would surround this book.

Greear has written a book that every Evangelical Christian ought to read. It's based on the many times he "went to the altar" and "prayed the prayer" to ask Jesus into his heart. As an evangelical, this is one of the most important moments of life. But is it biblical?

What about the fear that comes with guilt? What about when you sin after you've asked Jesus into your heart? Does that sin mean you are going to hell? Were you truly a Christian if you sinned after that moment?

Greear does a fantastic job outlining what the Bible clearly states a person needs to do in order to be "saved". (You'll have to read the book to find out...) His own experience growing up was a great resonance with my own and I've even been dealing with the questions this book answers from other Christians.

This book tackles the big questions like, how can you be sure of your salvation?, can a person lose their salvation?, What is faith? What is Repentance? Is eternal life truly only by grace and not works? What does it mean to pray the sinner's prayer? These are all covered quickly but solidly.

There are two appendices after the main body: one deals with baptism and when/if a person should be baptized. The second deals with justification and our sense of salvation assurance. Both are fantastic to keep you digging into your Bible and talking it over with your group of friends.

This is a small hardback book that would be a terrific gift for anyone who has asked, "What must I do to be saved?"